The contractor who was booked for multiple charges of fraud on flood victims was arrested again for allegedly using false receivables as collateral for his bond when he was in the Ascension Parish Jail. Sheriff Jeff Wiley says 39-year-old Matthew Morris, owner of Complete Construction Contractors, had issues with his cash bond…:
Cut 13 (10) “was revoked”
Morris is also facing charges in Baton Rouge, Walker, and Denham Springs

A federal appeals court has sided with the city of New Orleans in its effort to remove three structures to Confederate-era figures; ruling that they can be taken down. Mayor Mitch Landrieu first sought the removal of the monuments in the wake of the murders of nine black church members during a prayer meeting in Charleston, SC, in the summer of 2015. Bidding begins today. Landrieu says the statues will be stored in a city-owned warehouse.

Louisiana could be in trouble if a wildfire breaks out due to a shortage of firefighters, according to a state official…:
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The American Cancer Society has set a goal of 80-percent of Americans to be screened for colorectal cancer by 2018. Tulane Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine Dr. Jordan Karlitz says this is a major health issue here…:
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They want 417-thousand people in Louisiana to be screened.

The contractor arrested on multiple charges of fraud against flood victims has been booked back into the Ascension Parish Jail on additional charges. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban has many immigrants concerned, including some in Louisiana. Ibrahim Matri (Ib-ruh-ham Mah-tree), an LSU student from Libya, says he’s worried other countries will follow suit…:
Cut 8 (08) “domino effect”

Recent state budget cuts to the Department of Agriculture means Louisiana might not have the necessary resources to fight wildfires. That’s according to Ag Commissioner Mike Strain, who says one of the issues with the Gatlinburg fire in Tennessee is that the federal government decreased their firefighting budget. He say that means there wasn’t appropriate forest management…:
Cut 10 (12) “massive fire”
Strain is concerned continued cuts to his department will lead to a tragic event like this in Louisiana.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for 12 parishes in northeast Louisiana until noon today. The primary threat today looks to be damaging wind gusts, then possibly isolated tornadoes, hail, and locally heavy rainfall.

President Donald Trump signs a revised immigration order prohibiting new visas for citizens from six Middle Eastern countries. Emelie Gunn has local reaction…

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Three confederate monuments will be taken down in New Orleans, after a federal appeals court sides with the city. The City Council ordered the removal of statues of Robert e Lee, PGT Beauregard and Jefferson Davis after 9 African Americans were murdered at a South Carolina church, but the Monumental Task Committee filed a suit to block their removal. But after the court’s ruling, the statues are coming down.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling for the Rapides Parish District Attorney to remove John Guandolo as a speaker in a police training program because they say he promotes anti-Muslim conspiracies. But DA Phillip Terrell says there are no plans to remove him, and this seminar isn’t directed at anyone.

Cut 9 (08) “pure and simple”

Terrell says this seminar is sponsored by law enforcement agencies around the country.

The Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph is finally getting a new water system, as ground was broken today to replace the old system that has lead in it. The governor’s deputy chief of staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says they will supply clean drinking water for residents until the project is completed in September.

Cut 16 (10) “going on”

The system will have 12 miles of new pipe and 525 new meters.

President Donald Trump signed a revised version of the travel ban prohibiting new visas for citizens from six Middle Eastern countries. Congressman Ralph Abraham says America has to be cautious these days. He says he does not support open boarders because we need to protect our country first.

Cut 12 (07) “and again”

But Executive Director of the Louisiana ACLU Marjorie Esman says the president issued an order that indirectly bans Muslims from entering the country. She says keeping members of that religion out of the US is the president’s priority.

Cut 13 (08) “actually happens”

Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen are included in the ban.

Congressman Cedric Richmond apologized for joking that Kellyanne Conway looked familiar while on her knees on a couch in the Oval Office. President of NOW Baton Rouge Angela Adkins says women need to speak up when someone makes inappropriate comments like that. She encourages people to stay informed about policies lawmakers propose in the upcoming session.

Cut 5 (10) “go buy lattes”

Governor John Bel Edwards was in Tensas Parish today for the groundbreaking of the new water system for the town of St. Joseph. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Baxter Payer says this was a milestone for the rural town.

Cut 14 (09) “from their tap”

Residents of St. Joe have been struggling with brown tap water in their homes for nearly a decade.

President Donald Trump signed a revised version of his travel ban suspending immigration from six Middle Eastern countries. Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are the banned countries. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham supports the ban…:
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Executive director of the Louisiana ACLU Marjorie Esman wonders why President Trump issued the ban with a phased roll out…:
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The order shuts down the United States’ refugee program and creates a 90 day ban for citizens of the six countries who do not currently hold a U.S. green card or visa.

The town of St. Joseph is finally getting a brand new water system and Governor John Bel Edwards was on hand today for the groundbreaking. Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Baxter Payer says this was a very important milestone for the Tensas Parish town…:
CUT 14 (09) “from their tap”
Payer says more than 12 miles of new pipe will be laid, 525 new water meters installed, and new fire hydrants placed.

Congressman Cedric Richmond has issued an apology to White House aid Kellyanne Conway over a comment he made about a photo of her kneeling on a sofa. Some felt the statement about the position looking familiar was sexist. National Organization for Women in Baton Rouge Angela Adkins says the Congressman’s joke says a lot about the national dialogue about sexism…:
cut 4 (12) “thought they were”
Richmond said he’s been a champion for women’s issues and apologized to Conway and those who found the comment offensive.

New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond has apologized for joking that Kellyanne Conway looked familiar while on her knees on a couch in the Oval Office. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Louisiana is on track to become one of the top states for computer science graduates. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson
Cut 25 (12) “bossier area”
He says by using a digital media incentive, Louisiana was able to attract these major players in the IT business.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling for a change of speakers at a police training program scheduled to begin tomorrow in Alexandria. John Guandolo is one of the presenters at a three day training even hosted by the District Attorney’s Office. CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw says Guandolo is a discredited former FBI agent who promotes anti-Muslim conspiracy theories…:
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Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell says there are no plans to remove Guandolo as a speaker.

Governor John Bel Edwards has proclaimed this week as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Louisiana. GOHSEP urges the public to Get a Game Plan to protect themselves, their families, pets and homes in the event of severe weather.

US Representative Cedric Richmond has apologized after making a joke about a viral photo of Kellyanne Conway. Richmond said at the Washington Press Club Foundation dinner that Conway, a White House aid, looked familiar while kneeling on a couch in the Oval Office. President of the National Organization for Women in Baton Rouge Angela Adkins..:
Cut 3 (10) “inappropriate comment”
Adkins says Richmond does a lot of good work for women, and she believes he made a mistake.

A Muslim civil rights group wants the Rapides DA to cancel a law enforcement training seminar in Alexandria on investigating Jihadi operations in the US. They call it a misuse of taxpayer money, and aren’t happy the man offering the sessions is former FBI agent John Guandolo who they say is a known anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist. But the DA says the training is to talk about the potential of terrorism faced by the nation.

Lake Charles is once again hosting the LHSAA boy’s basketball tournament beginning today. There are 48 teams in town as opposed to the previous 28 due to the select/non-select playoff split, and Eric Zartler with the city’s CVB says they are ready for all the games. Other Louisiana cities have made rumblings about wanting to host the tournament, but Zartler says Lake Charles is staying the course..:
Cut 15 (12) “until they leave”
All games are played at Burton Coliseum.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will is attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the “Comprehensive Water Distribution System Replacement Project” in the Town of St. Joseph. The new system will include the installation of town-wide new water lines, electronic water meters, and new fire hydrants. The town’s water system tested positive for lead back in December prompting Edwards to issue a public health emergency.

UL-System President Jim Henderson says college campuses are falling apart due to lack of funding, and deferred maintenance costs are around $365 million dollars. In the upcoming session, he hopes lawmakers will consider the fact that Louisiana is the 16th lowest funded state for higher ed out of the 16 southern region states…:
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He says these issues can’t continue to be ignored or there will soon be a much bigger problem to deal with.

Louisiana is on track to become one of the top states for computer science graduates. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says as a result of this, Louisiana is attracting major businesses in the IT industry and that’s why it’s so important to embrace this field of work…:
Cut 6 (11) “are graduating”
Louisiana-job-connection-dot-com connects graduates with potential jobs in the IT sector.

US Representative Cedric Richmond issued a statement Sunday apologizing for his comments earlier in the week about Kellyanne Conway, aid to President Donald Trump. While in the Oval Office, Conway was photographed kneeling on a sofa in a dress in front of presidents of historically black colleges and universities. Richmond said the position look familiar, but has since apologized amid calls for him to do so.

Lake Charles is hosting 20 more teams than usual for the 2017 LHSAA boys’ state basketball tournament that begins today. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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